19th September 2011
On Sunday afternoon Miranda Carter and Bruce Baker
co-promoted their first event of the new season – Great Expectations –
at York Hall in the heart of the East End of London.
Surprisingly York Hall wasn’t packed to capacity, perhaps
because of the late pullout by British Light Welter Champ Ashley
Theophane, due to an injury, or even possibly that just days before
there were two other big shows in the Capital – Prizefighter and the
Mickey Helliet promoted event at the Elephant and Castle. However those
that made the trip to hallowed home of British boxing on Sunday were
treated to a cracking afternoon of action.
because of the late pullout by British Light Welter Champ Ashley
Theophane, due to an injury, or even possibly that just days before
there were two other big shows in the Capital – Prizefighter and the
Mickey Helliet promoted event at the Elephant and Castle. However those
that made the trip to hallowed home of British boxing on Sunday were
treated to a cracking afternoon of action.
With Ashley out Southern Area Cruiserweight Champion Leon
‘Solid’ Williams versus Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth was elevated to sole
headline status. (pic of action above)
‘Solid’ Williams versus Nick ‘The Ox’ Okoth was elevated to sole
headline status. (pic of action above)
Right from the opening bell Williams went on the attack,
closing down his prey before letting rip with a massive overhand right
that shook Battersea’s Okoth to the core. Not willing to give Okoth a
chance to recover Williams fired another exocet into the midriff. Okoth
sensibly covered up as another salvo of punches rained down on him.
closing down his prey before letting rip with a massive overhand right
that shook Battersea’s Okoth to the core. Not willing to give Okoth a
chance to recover Williams fired another exocet into the midriff. Okoth
sensibly covered up as another salvo of punches rained down on him.
Realising that covering up would only invite more from the
aggressive Streatham based Champ, Okoth decided attack was probably the
only form of defense that would keep him from being stopped early on.
Returning some big shots of his own did slow the Williams juggernaut,
but not for long as ‘Solid’ decided to walk straight through them to
counter with more of his big bombs. Late on in the round Williams landed
a peach of a right hand that looked destined to send the the fighting
fireman from Battersea down and out, but somehow Okoth managed to grab
hold of Williams to stay on his feet and see the round out.
aggressive Streatham based Champ, Okoth decided attack was probably the
only form of defense that would keep him from being stopped early on.
Returning some big shots of his own did slow the Williams juggernaut,
but not for long as ‘Solid’ decided to walk straight through them to
counter with more of his big bombs. Late on in the round Williams landed
a peach of a right hand that looked destined to send the the fighting
fireman from Battersea down and out, but somehow Okoth managed to grab
hold of Williams to stay on his feet and see the round out.
Williams flew out the corner at the start of the second,
Okoth initially used his jab to good effect to slow the advancing Champ.
Williams kept coming forward, eventually backing Okoth on the ropes
before letting rip with more big salvos to the body and head. Okoth
survived the onslaught and turned aggressor. Okoth pushed forward but
Williams would not budge and the pair locked horns in the centre ring.
Okoth initially used his jab to good effect to slow the advancing Champ.
Williams kept coming forward, eventually backing Okoth on the ropes
before letting rip with more big salvos to the body and head. Okoth
survived the onslaught and turned aggressor. Okoth pushed forward but
Williams would not budge and the pair locked horns in the centre ring.
More of the same in the third and fourth both giving their
all, Williams took both rounds purely by landing the more meaningful
shots.
all, Williams took both rounds purely by landing the more meaningful
shots.
 |
| Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor outpoints Sean Gorman |
Williams looked fired up as he came out in the fifth and the
writing was on the wall for Okoth right from the very first big right
that Williams landed. Living up to his ring moniker ‘Solid’ Williams
really started to work the body before backing Okoth on to a neutral
corner and firing off a huge salvo of shots to the body and head. Okoth
was beginning to look like a rag doll being savaged by a rabid
Rottweiler and as such it came as no surprise that referee Jeff Hinds
stepped in to save Okoth from a certain, and unnecessary, knockout on
the one minute thirty one second mark.
The final bout of the day saw Williams’ TRAD TKO gym mate
Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor take on Aberystwyth, Wales’ Sean Gorman.
Danny ‘Cassius’ Connor take on Aberystwyth, Wales’ Sean Gorman.
Connor had clearly upset Gorman with his pre fight comments,
which were widely reported in the press, as the Welsh lad was fired up
right from the off, as was clear by the venomous way he attacked
Connor’s body.
which were widely reported in the press, as the Welsh lad was fired up
right from the off, as was clear by the venomous way he attacked
Connor’s body.
Throughout the first couple of rounds Gorman would push
forward with vicious attack after vicious attack, young ‘Cassius’ kept
his cool and resisted getting into a tear up, instead he sensibly worked
behind his first class jab.
forward with vicious attack after vicious attack, young ‘Cassius’ kept
his cool and resisted getting into a tear up, instead he sensibly worked
behind his first class jab.
Round three see Gorman getting increasing success, by
getting under Connor’s superb jab before making his attacks. Connor must
have realised how close the fight was because he became far more
aggressive in the fourth and final round and boxed beautifully to secure
the win by a close 39-38 margin.
getting under Connor’s superb jab before making his attacks. Connor must
have realised how close the fight was because he became far more
aggressive in the fourth and final round and boxed beautifully to secure
the win by a close 39-38 margin.
 |
Francis Maina draws with Barrington Brown on his pro debut |
Preceding Connor-Gorman former MMA fighter turned boxer
Francis Maina, from Limehouse, made his professional debut against
Barrington Brown from Nottingham.
What a evenly matched affair this turned out to be,
throughout the four rounder they virtually matched each other punch for
punch. Saying that in my view I thought Maina was just a tad more
aggressive, which had me seeing him nicking most rounds. I have to admit
I wasn’t that surprised or disappointed when referee Ken Curtis scored
it a 39-39 draw as both lads put on a magnificent display.
throughout the four rounder they virtually matched each other punch for
punch. Saying that in my view I thought Maina was just a tad more
aggressive, which had me seeing him nicking most rounds. I have to admit
I wasn’t that surprised or disappointed when referee Ken Curtis scored
it a 39-39 draw as both lads put on a magnificent display.
Prior to these two bouts was the already covered
Williams-Okoth thriller, and prior to that barnstormer was another. This
time it was Billericay’s debuting Luke Fowler swapping copious amounts
of leather with Swansea’s Craig Dyer.
Williams-Okoth thriller, and prior to that barnstormer was another. This
time it was Billericay’s debuting Luke Fowler swapping copious amounts
of leather with Swansea’s Craig Dyer.
 |
| Luke Fowler out scored Craig Dyer over four rounds. |
What a cracking fight, Dyer was intent on giving young Luke a
baptism of fire, Luke on the other hand seemed to relish the battle, as
did his huge contingent of highly vocal supporters.
Fowler showed excellent ringcraft and head movement as the
Swansea lad threw bomb after bomb, as each big right hand came looming
into sight Fowler either moved out of range or dipped and swayed before
letting off an equally, but accurate, vicious counter. Throughout the
action was nonstop, the pair went at it hammer and tongs.
Swansea lad threw bomb after bomb, as each big right hand came looming
into sight Fowler either moved out of range or dipped and swayed before
letting off an equally, but accurate, vicious counter. Throughout the
action was nonstop, the pair went at it hammer and tongs.
The first real breakthrough came midway through the second
when Dyer, who was backed onto the ropes, was sent to the canvas,
however referee Ken Curtis waved off the count.
when Dyer, who was backed onto the ropes, was sent to the canvas,
however referee Ken Curtis waved off the count.
The nonstop action continued in very much the same vane for
the rest of the bout, with Dyer throwing lots of punches, most of which
missed the ever fluid Essex Boy who in return countered with crisp solid
jabs and big rights. No surprise then that after four sensation rounds
Luke Fowler was declared victorious by a 40-37 margin.
the rest of the bout, with Dyer throwing lots of punches, most of which
missed the ever fluid Essex Boy who in return countered with crisp solid
jabs and big rights. No surprise then that after four sensation rounds
Luke Fowler was declared victorious by a 40-37 margin.
The fourth bout of the night had Chiswick’s Dalton Miller take on Swansea’s Chris Brophy.
It was quite a lively start, with Brophy throwing bombs at
every opportunity. Miller on the other hand used his head, sticking to
his boxing and picking his shots.
every opportunity. Miller on the other hand used his head, sticking to
his boxing and picking his shots.
 |
| Dalton Miller beats Chris Brophy over the distance |
Throughout the bout it was very much this way, except for a
brief spell in the third when Brophy upped the pressure and backed
Miller on to the ropes, but that was short lived as Miller soon regained
control. No surprise to anyone that referee Jeff Hinds scored the bout
40-36 in favour of Miller, who had the edge over the Swansea man
throughout.
brief spell in the third when Brophy upped the pressure and backed
Miller on to the ropes, but that was short lived as Miller soon regained
control. No surprise to anyone that referee Jeff Hinds scored the bout
40-36 in favour of Miller, who had the edge over the Swansea man
throughout.
Prior to Miller-Brophy the highly rated, and exceptionally
slick Nathan Weise made his welcome return to York Hall, where he faced
ubiquitous Duncan Cottier.
slick Nathan Weise made his welcome return to York Hall, where he faced
ubiquitous Duncan Cottier.
It was quite a edgy start, with the normally fast starting
Weise seemingly feeling out the veteran journeyman. It soon livened up
though as Weise started to get into the flow, landing crisp jabs and
hooks to the body with ease to take the opening stanza.
Weise seemingly feeling out the veteran journeyman. It soon livened up
though as Weise started to get into the flow, landing crisp jabs and
hooks to the body with ease to take the opening stanza.
Weise really got into his stride in the second round, some
nice crisp movement and classy shots from all angles. Around midway
through an off balance Cottier was sent to his knees by a sharp right.
The Essex man protested it was slip, but referee continued the eight
count.
nice crisp movement and classy shots from all angles. Around midway
through an off balance Cottier was sent to his knees by a sharp right.
The Essex man protested it was slip, but referee continued the eight
count.
 |
| Nathan Weise outpoints Duncan Cottier |
Weise continued to put on a slick display, against little in
return from Cottier, until the final round to earn a well deserved
40-35 points victory.
The second bout of the afternoon see the highly entertaining
Nigerian-born Ideh Ockuko take on debuting Sean Tribble from Gosport,
Hants.
Nigerian-born Ideh Ockuko take on debuting Sean Tribble from Gosport,
Hants.
Ockuku entertained the York Hall crowd with a dancing ring
walk that continued after he entered the ring and tested the ropes. It
didn’t stop there as his natural rhythm came into play when the action
started.
walk that continued after he entered the ring and tested the ropes. It
didn’t stop there as his natural rhythm came into play when the action
started.
Ockuku was plain sensational as he danced his way around the
newcomer, picking his shots at will. I have to say that doesn’t really
do Ockuku justice as he showcased about every punch in the book and did
it with style.
newcomer, picking his shots at will. I have to say that doesn’t really
do Ockuku justice as he showcased about every punch in the book and did
it with style.
 |
| Ideh Ockuko beats Sean Tribble on points |
Don’t get me wrong it wasn’t all one way traffic, Tribble
gave his best and got some success for the effort, especially in the
mid-rounds, but really didn’t have an answer to quick footed and classy
Ockuku’s vast array of shots and as such it was no surprise that referee
Jeff Hinds rightly scored the bout 39-37 in favour of the London based
Nigerian.
gave his best and got some success for the effort, especially in the
mid-rounds, but really didn’t have an answer to quick footed and classy
Ockuku’s vast array of shots and as such it was no surprise that referee
Jeff Hinds rightly scored the bout 39-37 in favour of the London based
Nigerian.
The opening bout of the show see Peckham’s Diego Burton face Wickford’s Danny Brown.
The normally fast starting Brown seemed sluggish from the
start, making life far to easy for Burton, who sent Brown onto the back
foot with some seriously sharp jabs. Burton continued to dominate the
proceedings easily, all but a brief period early in the third, to earn
his first win by a 40-36 points margin.
start, making life far to easy for Burton, who sent Brown onto the back
foot with some seriously sharp jabs. Burton continued to dominate the
proceedings easily, all but a brief period early in the third, to earn
his first win by a 40-36 points margin.
I have to say this was my first visit to one of Miranda’s
Sunday spectaculars, I’m usually quite content to stay at home on the
Sabbath and have a relaxing Sunday dinner with my gorgeous girlfriend,
but if this is the normal standard of fare on offer at Left Jab’s shows
I can see myself in the arms of my pugilistic Friday and Saturday night
mistress more often on a Sunday afternoon, as it was nothing short of
first class.
By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
.
Sunday spectaculars, I’m usually quite content to stay at home on the
Sabbath and have a relaxing Sunday dinner with my gorgeous girlfriend,
but if this is the normal standard of fare on offer at Left Jab’s shows
I can see myself in the arms of my pugilistic Friday and Saturday night
mistress more often on a Sunday afternoon, as it was nothing short of
first class.
By Gianluca (Rio) Di Caro
.
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